orthotomeo is the Greek word you see, but I am fluent with Greek!! It can also mean to "teach right" Thus making the English translation correct. If you go back to your bilos.com/2_..etc page and do some more research, you will see that I am in fact correct!!
The texts you place side by side can give the impression that Paul was a "false prophet" ... I disagree. When I count the individuals that were Apostles in scripture, I count at least 14 "different" people.
1st John.
The alternate definitions are not literal, but are only reflective of the other translations. The literal meaning is straightly cutting. Since the word only occurs once in the entire NT, its hard to compare its usage. (from temnō, "to cut" and 3717 /orthós, "straight") But for all intents, we should rightly handle the owrd.
The purpose was not to show Paul a false prophet. He isn't. In fact he is
THE apostle Jesus hand picked to teach us today.
B. W. wrote:What is the purpose of an Apostle and what defines that office?
-[/quote]I don't think there are official apostles today. The word simply means, one who is sent.
Paul says, For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office. (Romans 11:13)
Pauls calling is to administer his office.
For the 12 it was to administer their's. In that sense they are equal apostles. But it is what they are called to that makes the distinctions. You can say that a captain of the football team and a captain in the Army are both captains. But it is what they are captains of that makes all the difference.
So, Paul is absolutely OUR apostle TODAY. Not Peter, not James, not Matthew. And that will be the case until,.......Romans 11:25.
-“The Bible treated allegorically becomes putty in the hands of the exegete.” John Walvoord
"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious